Lower Adolescent

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NoMythic Robotics Updates!

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Our robotics team NoMythic is in Duluth for our first competition of the season! Our students have been working incredibly hard for the past two months to build an incredible robot and team, and we’re about to see all that hard work pay off!

If you’re interested in watching our robot in action, you can on twitch at this link: https://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires6

We have practice matches on Thursday, qualification matches Friday and Saturday morning, and playoffs Saturday afternoon (fingers crossed we’ll be involved!). We’re super excited to be bringing our robot up north for the Northern Lights competition, and we'll be excited to report back

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REMINDER: P.E.G. Parent Engagement Group presents "Parent Education" - Mon., Mar. 4, 6pm

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The Parent Engagement Group cordially invites you to an evening of education and planning TONIGHT, Monday, March 4th at 6 pm. PEG's intention for these monthly meetings is to provide an opportunity to gather for the purpose of strengthening our knowledge and community bonds to each other.

Saleha Erdmann, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Coordinator

We will begin the meeting at 6 pm with our guest speaker, Saleha Erdmann, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Coordinator. Saleha will speak about the Great River School Social Emotional Learning program. She will share how SEL supports students, staff and the broader GRS community.

Jeremy Sartain, GRS School Board Chair

We will continue our caregiver Education at 6:30 with a second topic. Great River School Board Chair, Jeremy Sartain, will give an overview of Board happenings and Foundation updates. Our brand new Development Director will be introduced and will collaborate with Jeremy on a couple of action item for caregivers and the broader GRS community to continue helping Great River School be the best environment possible for our children. The monthly PEG planning meeting will follow this presentation starting at 7 pm. In the PEG planning portion of the meeting we will be discussing food for staff during spring conferences, the Blue Heron Bash, Earth Day, and more!

We’ll be meeting in person in the Upper Adolescent Commons, please enter at Door G by the garden shed and the grow lights.
Or on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84299165563?pwd=UUhEL216dTRPc0laQld2cHprblJjUT09
Meeting ID: 842 9916 5563
Passcode: 932164
When: March 4th at 6 pm
Where: GRS, Upper Adolescent Commons, please enter by Door G, near the Garden shed and grow light. Please join us for as little or as much time as you are able.

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REMINDER: P.E.G. Parent Engagement Group presents "Parent Education: SEL" - Mon., Mar. 4, 6pm

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The Parent Engagement Group cordially invites you to an evening of education and planning Monday, March 4th at 6 pm. PEG's intention for these monthly meetings is to provide an opportunity to gather for the purpose of strengthening our knowledge and community bonds to each other.

Saleha Erdmann, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Coordinator

We will begin the meeting at 6 pm with our guest speaker, Saleha Erdmann, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Coordinator. Saleha will speak about the Great River School Social Emotional Learning program. She will share how SEL supports students, staff and the broader GRS community.

Jeremy Sartain, GRS School Board Chair

We will continue our caregiver Education at 6:30 with a second topic. Great River School Board Chair, Jeremy Sartain, will give an overview of Board happenings and Foundation updates. Our brand new Development Director will be introduced and will collaborate with Jeremy on a couple of action item for caregivers and the broader GRS community to continue helping Great River School be the best environment possible for our children. The monthly PEG planning meeting will follow this presentation starting at 7 pm. In the PEG planning portion of the meeting we will be discussing food for staff during spring conferences, the Blue Heron Bash, Earth Day, and more!

We’ll be meeting in person in the Upper Adolescent Commons, please enter at Door G by the garden shed and the grow lights.
Or on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84299165563?pwd=UUhEL216dTRPc0laQld2cHprblJjUT09
Meeting ID: 842 9916 5563
Passcode: 932164
When: March 4th at 6 pm
Where: GRS, Upper Adolescent Commons, please enter by Door G, near the Garden shed and grow light. Please join us for as little or as much time as you are able.

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Calling all Ultimate Players - 5th to 12th Grade

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Middle (5th-8th) and High School (9th-12th) Ultimate Registration is now open.  Please visit our GRS Ultimate Stars website to join today!  The website also has information about the schedule, an informational slideshow, pricing and more. If you have never played, no worries!  We equally encourage novice and experienced players to be a part of the GRS Ultimate community.

TINYURL.COM/STARSULTIMATE
Please do this as soon as possible to receive uniforms on time and to help coaches get organized and create teams.  Be part of the only sport that is made up entirely of GRS students and sign up today.  If you have any questions, please contact Brent Cummins (bcummins@greatriverschool.org) who is our “Ultimate Athletic Director.”

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P.E.G. Parent Engagement Group presents "Parent Education: SEL" - Mon., Mar. 4, 6pm

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The Parent Engagement Group cordially invites you to an evening of education and planning Monday, March 4th at 6 pm. PEG's intention for these monthly meetings is to provide an opportunity to gather for the purpose of strengthening our knowledge and community bonds to each other.

We will begin the meeting at 6 pm with our guest speaker, Saleha Erdmann, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Coordinator. Saleha Erdmann, the GRS Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Coordinator will speak about the Great River School Social Emotional Learning program. She will share how SEL supports students, staff and the broader GRS community.

The monthly PEG planning meeting will follow this presentation starting at 6:30 pm. In the PEG planning portion of the meeting we will be discussing food for staff during spring conferences, the Blue Heron Bash, Earth Day, and more!

We’ll be meeting in person in the Upper Adolescent Commons, please enter at Door G by the garden shed and the grow light
Or on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84299165563?pwd=UUhEL216dTRPc0laQld2cHprblJjUT09
Meeting ID: 842 9916 5563
Passcode: 932164
When: March 4th at 6 pm
Where: GRS, Upper Adolescent Commons, please enter by Door G, near the Garden shed and grow light. Please join us for as little or as much time as you are able.

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Plant Pot Donations Needed

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Hello Upper and Lower adolescent families! In the coming weeks, a fellow student and I will be leading a plant potting CAS. One issue we’ve been facing is getting enough materials that we need. We would greatly appreciate any donations of terra cotta or ceramic pots, if you have any you are willing to donate please drop them off at the front desk.

Thank you!

Ray Palahniuk

Email sender - rpalahniuk@greatriverschool.org

REMINDER: SOS Signs of Suicide Training (7th & 8th Grade); March 13

 

7th and 8th grade parents and caregivers,  

Don’t forget to check your email for a message from the GRS Mental Health Team regarding the upcoming program called SOS Signs of Suicide, a mental health program used by Great River every year. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help. 

Students will complete the training and screener on WEDNESDAY  MARCH 13, 2024

We encourage you to visit www.mindwise.org/parents for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn. 

Resources  

 

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in this program please contact us at gcarveth@greatriverschool.org or stupper@greatriverschool.org  

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Reminder: Ultimate H.S Fundraiser: Davanni's!

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The Great River Ultimate high school teams are raising funds to support their winter dome practice and their upcoming Spring season. Pickup dinner on Tuesday, Feb 27th, 4-8pm at Davanni's on Cleveland and Grand Ave in St Paul. Mention the GRS fundraiser in your take-out, dine-in, or curbside order to support the team.

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Calling all Ultimate Players–5th to 12th Graders!

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Middle (5th-8th) and High School (9th-12th) Ultimate Registration is now open.  Please visit our GRS Ultimate Stars website to join today!  The website also has information about the schedule, an informational slideshow, pricing and more. If you have never played, no worries!  We equally encourage novice and experienced players to be a part of the GRS Ultimate community.

TINYURL.COM/STARSULTIMATE

Please do this as soon as possible to receive uniforms on time and to help coaches get organized and create teams.  Be part of the only sport that is made up entirely of GRS students and sign up today.  If you have any questions, please contact Brent Cummins (bcummins@greatriverschool.org) who is our “Ultimate Athletic Director.”

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Reminder: Ultimate H.S Fundraiser: Davanni's!

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The Great River Ultimate high school teams are raising funds to support their winter dome practice and their upcoming Spring season. Pickup dinner on Tuesday, Feb 27th, 4-8pm at Davanni's on Cleveland and Grand Ave in St Paul. Mention the GRS fundraiser in your take-out, dine-in, or curbside order to support the team.

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SEAC (Special Education Advisory Council) Monday, February 26th; 6pm

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Greetings Families,

There will be a SEAC (Special Education Advisory Council) meeting on Monday, February 26th at 6pm.  All parents / guardians of students currently receiving special education services are invited to attend.  The meeting will be in person, or if you are unable to attend in person, there will be a Zoom link available. For the Zoom link, please contact Jeremy Sartain at jsartain@greatriverschool.org. A zoom link with a general 'agenda' will be sent out this week.  If you arrive late and can't get into the building on the day of the meeting, call or text Jeremy Sartain at 612-414-5224.

What is a SEAC?

A SEAC (pronounced “seek”) is an acronym for Special Education Advisory Council, which is a group that provides input on special education issues to its local school district. Its purpose is to advise and advocate, not to decide policy. Minnesota law requires each school district in the state to have a SEAC although it does not specify how the groups should be organized or what duties they should perform. As a result, each SEAC may have a unique mission and structure.

(Source www.pacer.org)

Why Might I Want to Participate on a SEAC?

Parents give many reasons for joining a SEAC, including these:

  • I may be able to help other families and children with disabilities in my school district.

  • I can share what I’ve learned since my child began his education.

  • I can support the school professionals in my district.

  • I will be a good role model for my child.

  • I feel good when I make a contribution to this community.

  • I will learn information and skills that may help me work more effectively with my school district.

  • I will meet others with similar goals, both parents and school professionals.

  • I may build positive relationships with others in my district.

  • I will become more knowledgeable about special education.

  • By sharing my unique perspective and insights as a parent, I may help the school district work more effectively with families and improve outcomes for children.

(Source www.pacer.org)

Some background information about Jeremy Sartain:
I am currently the Board Chair for Great River School.  One reason I joined the Board is to assure special education (staff, caregivers and students) had representation.  Jennie and I are organizing SEAC meetings this year (with help from Brad and Lindsey). 

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Ultimate Frisbee Registration to Open Soon!

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Attention all 5th-12th graders interested in Ultimate Frisbee this spring: Registration for Middle and High School Ultimate will be opening next week. We will update our Ultimate website with all the information by next Wednesday (TINYURL.COM/STARSULTIMATE). Until then, email Brent Cummins with any questions--bcummins@greatriverschool.org Also, check out this Ultimate opportunity for players of all ages put on by MN

Ultimate and the Wind Chill:
https://shop.windchillultimate.com/products/chill-strike-indoor-youth-clinic-3-9-24

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Volleyball Coach Needed!

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We are hoping to offer coed volleyball this spring for grades 5-7, and we're looking for a coach! The season will start the week of February 26 and end April 26 (9 weeks). Games are on Wednesdays at 4:30 or 5:30 and practices can be the coach's choice of T, Th or Friday in the GRS gym. This position earns a stipend of $1000. 

Please contact kanway@greatriverschool.org  by 2/12 if you'd like to be our coach, and/or with any questions. Thank you!

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GRS Summer Camp–Early Bird Discount ends soon!

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Be sure to sign up for summer camp soon to grab a spot and maximize your savings as the early bird discount ends February 14.  Our 1st-3rd grade camps are filling up extremely fast but we still have spaces in our PreK/K, 4th-7th, 7th-10th and 9th-12th camps.  We have a lot of GRS staff leading camps, so come spend some non-school time with them!  Scott Alsleben is leading lots of Ultimate Camps, Ethan Hulett is leading fun half day camps at Como Park, Derek Damron is leading our first ever Bikepacking Camp, Chad Hofland is leading a band/music camp, Alexis Jackson is once again leading most of our Camp of All Camps, and many more!  It’s going to be an amazing summer, so don’t wait too long to sign up.  

For schedules and registration, go to https://great-river-school.jumbula.com/home or email Brent Cummins at bcummins@greatriverschool.org with any questions.

As always, we are dedicated to making summer camp possible and affordable for ALL through our early-bird pricing, sibling discount, multi-program discount and our Pay What You Can program.

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Ultimate Frisbee Fundraiser!

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The Great River Ultimate high school teams are raising funds to support their winter dome practice and their upcoming Spring season. Pickup dinner on Tuesday, Feb 27 4-8pm at Davanni's on Cleveland and Grand Ave in St Paul. Mention the GRS fundraiser in your take-out, dine-in, or curbside order to support the team.

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PEG Monthly Newsletter, February 2024

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Check out the new PEG newsletter by clicking on the image below or the following link: https://www.smore.com/w69z7

Did you know PEG has a parent volunteer-composed Monthly newsletter to keep you updated on all the events, volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved in the GRS Community? Take a look! Thanks to the amazing work of parent volunteer, Ashley Beermann, a vibrant PEG Newsletter will be updated every month! Happy reading!

New updates, information, and PEG newsletters will also be available on the PEG website: https://www.greatriverschool.org/peg

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J Term performances: Wizard of Oz and Baskervilles, Feb. 14 - 16, 2024

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Every year, the 7th and 8th grade students take time off from their normal studies and immerse themselves in the Theater Arts. This year they are putting on two shows: The Hound of the Baskervilles and the Wizard of Oz. The Theater Intensive Performances return to the Wellstone Center for the first time in 7 years. All are invited to attend the shows; each show is performed 4 times, allowing each cast of students to perform twice. Performances are February 14-16th and take place at the Wellstone Center. Links to buy tickets are below. We hope to see you all there!

Wellstone Center
(Neighborhood House)
179 Robie Street East
St. Paul, MN 55107

To see more about the shows, tickets, and the performance times, visit the link below:

https://www.greatriverschool.org/j-term-theatre-intensives